Hays CISD announces its policy for providing free and reduced-priced meals. Each school has a copy of the policy and the income guidelines, which may be reviewed by any interested party.

Household size and income criteria will are used to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price benefits. Foster children who are the legal responsibility of a welfare agency or court may also be eligible for benefits regardless of the income of the household with whom they reside. The guidelines serve to accommodate free and reduced-price meals for students depending on a family’s annual household income. A child with a family size of four is eligible for free meals if the annual income is less than $25,155, and reduced-price meals if the annual income is less than $35,798. A child with a family size of five is eligible for free meals with an annual income of $29,393, and reduced-price meals with an annual income of $41,829. A child with a family size of six is eligible for free meals if the annual income is less than $33,631, and a reduced-price meal with an annual income of less than $47,860.

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, Hays CISD child nutrition staff will review applications and determine eligibility. Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the ruling of the official may wish to discuss the decision with the reviewing official on an informal basis. Parents wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request either orally or in writing to Jennifer Boesch, Hays CISD; 21003 Interstate 35, Kyle, TX. 78640; 268.1336.

The Hays CISD Board of Trustees, at the June regular meeting, voted to increase the price of school breakfast and lunch by 25 cents. Under the new pricing scheme, breakfast at the elementary schools will be $1.05 and will be $1.15 at the middle and high schools. Lunch at elementary schools will be $1.70 and will be $1.90 at the middle and high schools. The change will not affect the reduced meal price of 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch.

back to top

The Hays CISD Transportation Department is conducting informational meetings for parents and members of the community to learn how the bus system provides transportation for students to and from school. Two, two-hour sessions will be offered on August 6, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, please call 268.2141.

back to top

New student registration will be July 25 and 26 at all campuses during regular business hours. Please call the Central Administration Office, 268-2141, if you are new to the district and are unsure where your child will be attending school.

back to top

July 14, 2005
2005 HHS Graduate places 4^th at Nationals

Chris Derichs, a 2005 graduate of Hays High School, placed 4^th out of 41 in the country in the Skills USA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City in late-June.

Chris qualified to compete after winning 1^st place at district and state competitions earlier this year. Lasting six hours, the competition included a written test, “de-bug” simulation, “breadboard” assembly, troubleshooting and soldering. His advisor Hugh Timmons, an electronics teacher at Hays HS, accompanied Chris.

back to top

July 14, 2005
Be Up-to-Date, Vaccinate!

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and the Hays WELL Clinic is asking families in Hays CISD to check if their children are up-do-date on immunizations.

“Vaccines are a key to a healthy life for people of all ages and cultures in our community and we are using this opportunity to remind everyone of the importance of being up to date,” said Kay Gibbons, Nurse Practitioner at the WELL Clinic.

On July 25 and 26, all Hays CISD campuses will be conducting new student registration. With the new state requirements regarding vaccinations, “we want to make sure all of our students are ready for the first day of school,” Mrs. Gibbons said. “We are beginning the immunization awareness month a little early to coincide with school registration.”

A walk-in immunization clinic will be at Hemphill Elementary School on Tuesday, July 26 from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on Wednesday, July 27, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Immunizations are $5 each. Medicaid and CHIP are accepted. A representative from Medicaid will also be available to assist parents in applying for coverage.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children receive vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, HIB, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis B and polio. New legislation now also requires children 5 years old or younger to receive the pneumococcal vaccine and hepatitis A. Adolescents should make sure their tetanus/diphtheria booster is up to date.

“Before these vaccines became available, the diseases caused tens of thousands of deaths each year,” Mrs. Gibbons said. “Because today’s vaccines are safe and effective, members of our community can, and should be protected by being up to date on their immunizations.”

For more information about vaccines and which ones are right for you, contact the WELL Clinic at 268-5218 or the Kyle office of the Hays County Health Department at 268-1270, or visit the National Partnership for Immunization Web site at www.partnersforimmunization.org.

back to top

A Pre-kindergarten “center” of eight portable classrooms at Hemphill Elementary School will be the location for all Pre-K students who live in the Hemphill, Fuentes and Tobias elementary schools attendance zones. Pre-K programs are also at Tom Green Elementary and Kyle Elementary.

The Pre-K schedule for the 2005-06 school year is: 7:15 a.m. to 10:35 a.m. for the morning session (includes breakfast) and 11:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. for the afternoon session (includes lunch).

The morning session at the Hemphill Elementary campus will include: Pre-K students who live in the Hemphill Elementary attendance zone, and Tobias Elementary attendance zone, west of Interstate 35 and Saddlebrook subdivision. The afternoon session at the Hemphill campus will include: Pre-K students who live in the Fuentes Elementary attendance zone and Tobias students who live east of Interstate 35. At Kyle Elementary School, Pre-K students who live north of the school will attend the morning session and students who live south of the school will attend the afternoon session. At Tom Green, bilingual students who live in the Elm Grove and Buda attendance zone, and Pre-K students who live in Hillside Terrace will attend the morning session. All other Pre-K students in the Tom Green attendance zone will attend the afternoon session.

The Hays CISD Pre-K program is for students who are 4 years old on or before September 1.  The child must also be either limited English proficient, eligible to participate in the National Free or Reduced-Price Lunch Program, or homeless. Transportation is provided. Proof of income is required at the time of registration. Information regarding the state guidelines for Pre-K is available on the Texas Education Agency website, http://www.tea.state.tx.us/peims/faq/faq.htm.

back to top

Hays middle school students showed their parents how to take apart a computer and rebuild it. The students are part of the first class of the Dell TechKnow program, which conducted a graduation ceremony at the Barton Middle School cafeteria. The event showcased 20 tech-savvy middle students from Barton Middle School, Dalhstrom Middle School, Lehman High School, and Wallace Middle School.

A collaborative effort of Hays CISD and Dell Inc., the Dell TechKnow program is a 40-hour after-school program providing underserved middle school students with an opportunity to earn a home computer and learn technology skills that promote self-esteem, academic success, and prepare students for opportunities in today’s technology-driven world.

“It is great to see the involvement and enthusiasm of the participants,” said Betty Harrison, Hays CISD Executive Director of Secondary Curriculum. “I think this program will have a huge impact on these students and their families. We look forward to seeing the long-terms benefits of this project.”

Students in the Dell TechKnow program receive a free refurbished Dell™ desktop computer and work in teams to learn computer basics.  Students learn how to take apart and re-build the computer, install software; upgrade, diagnose and fix basic hardware problems; and how to use the word processing and educational software.  In addition, students must meet certain program requirements such as attending school, demonstrating good citizenship and sustaining or improving their grades. Upon completion of the course, students earn a refurbished Dell desktop computer, operating system and software to take home and one year of free Internet access from America Online, Inc.

Deb Palmer and Nancy Pier from Hays CISD served as the instructors for the Dell TechKnow program this summer.  Their involvement reflects the Hays CISD’s commitment to provide all educators and learners with technology-rich environments that support student achievement and produce lifelong learners able to succeed in an information society.

For information on how an organization or individual can contribute to the Dell TechKnow program in Hays CISD, contact Marcia McClendon, mcclendonm@hayscisd.net
  

click to enlarge

back to top